This I Believe Assignment

After previewing the film What I Want My Words to Do to You and looking at some sample This I
Believe statements, you will be writing your own belief statement. We will be drafting, revising,
group editing, and publishing these statements, so dont choose a topic you are uncomfortable
sharing.
Think About: decide what the content of your belief statement will be. Is it situational? I Believe
in fighting for my freedom. Or is it topical? I believe in Failure. Or, maybe its more
circumstantial! I Believe in ghosts.

This I Believe Organizer!

PART I: I Believe in ________________________________________ [state].

PART II: Next, define what it is you believe in. For example, courage is Or Ghost stories
are
[insert belief word/phrase] _____________________________________- is.

PART III: Finally, narrate a story that EXEMPLIFIES your belief statement. For example, tell the
story of when you campaigned for a new rule at school. The story should be a picture as to why
you believe what you do. If we were to work backwards, your belief would be the theme of your
story! Stories should be detailed, organized, have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Must be at
least 300 words.
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**If you need, go on to separate paper!
Revision: Adding Detail
Reread and check to strengthen these three areas:

COMPREHENSIVE CHRONOLOGY Are all parts of the story there, or are their pieces that the writer
could fill in?
SETTING Ask students to be detailed in their descriptions. What were people wearing? Where did
this happen? What time of day was it?
EMOTIONS What were they feeling? How are they conveying their emotions in their writing? What
were other people feeling? How did they know what other people were feeling (e.g., tone of voice,
facial expression, body language, etc.)

Group Share: When we read aloud in groups, as a class, here are some appropriate feedback
stems. Everyone should be prepared to share!

"I could really feel what you were talking about when you used the words..."
"In the section where you _____ I think it might have worked better if you had..."
"I could really relate when you ____ because..."
"The part about ____ didn't make sense to me. What did you mean?"

To Publish: log in to your blog (Ms. Caf will provide you the link). Click your name from the dropdown
menu and enter your password. All passwords are lhs2013. **You can change the look/feel of your blog if
you want (see settings/dashboard) but blogs and comments are restrictred and controlled by Ms. Cafarelli

Type your BELIEF STATEMENT

1.
2.
3.
4.

TITLE OF NEW POST: This I Believe in [insert belief]

BODY OF POST: type your draft, parts I-III
TAGS: This I Believe
SPELL/GRAMMAR CHECK (not automatic! But, there is a button!)
5. HIT PUBLISH!